Switch Splatoon
Image: Nintendo Life

The Nintendo Switch's robust performance over the Christmas 2019 period has given it the momentum to overtake the SNES in terms of total lifetime sales.

Thanks to sustained demand and the timely arrival of the cheaper Switch Lite, the Switch enjoyed its strongest quarter so far during the festive season, selling 10.81 million units worldwide. That means, as of the end of 2019, Switch has sold a grand total of 52.48 million since its arrival at the start of 2017.

The SNES, on the other hand, sold 49.10 million units during its lifespan. Switch now stands as Nintendo's third-most-popular home console, with only the NES (61.91 million) and Wii (101.63 million) standing in its way.

Console Hardware Sales (Million) Software Sales (Million)
Wii 101.63 921.19
NES 61.91 500.01
Nintendo Switch 52.48 310.65
SNES 49.10 379.06
Nintendo 64 32.93 224.97
GameCube 21.74 208.57
Wii U 13.56 102.96

Nintendo's other ongoing concern, the 3DS, only managed 260,000 units during the 2019 holiday period.

Due to the Switch's robust performance at Christmas, Nintendo has increased its sales forecast for the financial year, bumping the figure from 18 million to 19.5 million.

[source nintendo.co.jp]